Letter to the Editor

Yay! My letter to the editor was finally published in Charleston's daily newspaper, the Post and Courier! You can read it at www.charleston.net

Preserve legacy

We are an inch away from potentially losing a significant part of African-American history in Charleston.
At 22 Elizabeth St. stands the New Tabernacle Fourth Baptist Church. It is a towering Gothic structure, constructed in 1859, with 20-foot windows, soaring vaults and a 55-foot ceiling.
This African-American church was led by the famous Rev. Daniel Jenkins, the founder of Jenkins Orphanage.
The church carries with it a historical and cultural meaning that far surpasses that of most buildings in Charleston. It stands as a testament to African-American achievement and pride and is included in most black history tours of the city.
Unfortunately for all of us, this structure is about to be converted into a theater.
By doing so, it will not only lose its function as a place of worship, but it will also start to wither away as a symbolic representation of African-American achievement.
It currently stands in the Mazyck-Wraggborough district, a historically black neighborhood, which has in large part fallen victim to gentrification. Yet on Sunday morning, there is nobody in this white neighborhood who does not recognize that this is a black church, and for those few hours of the day, these Charlestonians reclaim their historical presence, reminding the rest of the residents that times change and harmony does exist.
Every day when I walk past it, I am inspired by its presence and aware that I am witnessing living history.
I acknowledge the struggle of African-Americans, who sacrificed so much in a time when most had so little, in order to worship in a place that they could be proud of. It is a place of beauty, culture and history.
We should do everything in our power as a community, black and white alike, to ensure that this rich historical legacy is maintained for future generations.

JESSICA LANCIA